Josh McGuire - Respecting Olders | Austin CFC | 2023-10-15
Summary
The speaker encourages listeners to always hold the New Covenant standard as higher than previous covenants, noting that Jesus raised the standard from prohibitions against actions (like murder) to internal states (like hatred). He emphasizes reading the entire Bible, including the Old Testament, not for intellectual display but to seek God's heart. The core teaching revolves around examining scripture—specifically Exodus 30 and Numbers 1 and 32—to determine if God has set a specific age of accountability or maturity.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What is the age of majority in God's eyes?Brother Zach challenged the elders to search the scriptures to see what age God considers someone an adult and fully accountable.
Exodus 30: Taxes and census at age twentyIn Exodus, those who were twenty years old and above were numbered in the census and required to pay the tax contribution to the Lord.Exodus 30:12–14
Numbers 1: Military service at age twentyThe Lord instructed Moses to number every male from twenty years old and upward who was able to go out to war.Numbers 1:2–3
Numbers 32: The wilderness generation and accountabilityGod drew a line in the wilderness where everyone twenty years old and upward perished, except for Joshua and Caleb, serving as an example for us.Numbers 32:9–13
Deuteronomy 21: The serious consequence of rebellionThe law commanded that a stubborn and rebellious son who refused to obey his parents should face severe judgment to purge evil from Israel.
Job 32: Elihu waiting to speak out of respect for eldersElihu waited to speak to Job because the others were years older than he, demonstrating a biblical principle of respecting seniority.Job 32:4
Leviticus 19: Standing up in the presence of the gray-headedGod commands His people to stand up in the presence of the gray-headed, honor elders, and fear the Lord.Leviticus 19:32
1 Peter 2: Respecting masters and teachersPeter instructs servants to be subject to their masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to the harsh ones.
1 Timothy 5: Appealing to older men as fathersPaul tells Timothy not to sharply rebuke an older man, but rather to appeal to him as a father.
Hebrews 11: Pleasing God through faithWithout faith it is impossible to please God, meaning our obedience and respect for authority must spring from trusting what God says.
Philippians 2: Regarding others as more importantBelievers are called to do nothing from selfish ambition, but with humility of mind to regard one another as more important than themselves.
